Weekend thieves target local churches 03-28-2005

Thieves have been coming to Plainview´s churches to prey over the last two weekends.

According to Plainview Police Capt. Michael Carroll, eight churches have been targeted over the last two weekends - three last weekend and five this weekend.

Hit Sunday night were First Assembly of God, located at 1300 N. I-27; 11th and Amarillo Church of Christ; Trinity Fellowship Church at 200 S. I-27; Calvary Baptist Church at 1613 W. 24th, and College Heights Baptist Church at 802 Quincy.

The previous weekend, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Jericho Fellowship and New Life Fellowship were burglarized.

Carroll said the suspect or suspects involved in each burglary appear to only be interested in money - probably targeting the churches´ Sunday offerings. He pointed out that the churches are being hit on Sunday nights.

That is a switch from traditional church burglaries in which the sound systems are targeted.

In Sunday night´s incidents, First Assembly of God suffered $350 worth of damage when a glass door was broken. However, nothing had been reported missing as of press time.

The Church of Christ had $500 in damage done after a glass door and window were broken. They also had $100 in currency stolen.

Calvary Baptist Church had $600 worth of damage done to two glass doors, but no money was stolen.

At Trinity Fellowship, $40 in currency was stolen. However, a considerable amount of damage was done to the church as well. In addition to having several windows broken, filing cabinet and a separate desk cabinet were damaged. Also, the phone box and fire alarm control box were disabled and a digital camera worth $200 was stolen.

Police had not had a chance to file a report on the College Heights burglary.

Carroll encouraged churches to not leave sums of money in their buildings overnight.

He also said the police department will being keeping an eye on Plainview´s churches until the suspect or suspects are caught.

We´re going to be watching churches as close as possible, he said. Posted to MyPlainview: MARCH 28, 2005 12:59 CST